Fire fighting and rescue apparatus



Nov. 23, 1937. 05, F, BUCHHEIT I 2,100,066

FIRE FIGHTING AND RESCUE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov 23, 1937. H. F. BUCHHEIT ,0

FIRHFIGHTING AND RESCUELAPPARATUS Filed Feb. 4, 1937 5 Sheefs-Sheet 2 "Nov. 23, 1937. h H. F. BUCHHEIT 2,100,065

I FIRE FIGHTING AND RESCUE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4, 1957 I 5 Sheets-Sheet s Patented Nov; 23, 1937 "OFFICE V 2,100,058 i f FIR-E FIGHTING AND aEsoU-E APPARATUS Henry {Frank Buchheit, lVIil'waukee, Wis., as signor of one-hall to Annie -Mater if Ap'plicatidnfcbruary 4, 1935, Serial No. 124,151

7 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a character of apparatus particularly advantageous 1 for usage in fire fighting and rescue work, having for an object, to provide a deviceof the character indicated, equipped with means for receiving and safely guarding therein either A-fire- ,men or other perso-ns during fire fighting'or rescue work, the person-receiving means being .car-

ried by mech anism so operable that it may be l raised or lowered to any desired height or point, and when desired, or required, may be returned to its initial startingandlowered position,,or;to ny desired intermediate point; i t

It is also an object-of the invention to provide thelapparatus witha'novel form of means whereanism may be, at the will of an operator ofthe apparatus, selectively inclined. or tilted so as to permit the'd'irectinglof the. compartment to a desired objective, notwithstanding the fact that such objective maybe located at a point above and lateral of the apparatus; v v I H A further objective of the invention maybe stated'to reside-in providing the compartment or person-receiving means of {the apparatus with a novel form of traction or creeping means, this latter means being adapted, with inclining or tilting of the apparatus elevating mechanism; to engage with a wall or similar surface being traversed by, the compartment, and causing such compartment to be effe'ctually'braced during its upward or downward movement,'consequently, insuring greater safety "to the occupantsithereof, as well as the successful operation of the appa- ;aratus.

vide the apparatus compartment with means which are operable in conjunction with the traction or creeping' neans in a manner to cause the compartment to be automatically levelled during -'such time as it is being'raised or lowered to 'or 'firom an objectiveysuchautomatic levelling means being-operated from the said traction or creeping means in a manner'wh ereby when thetr'acnation means are moving over a wall or othersurface which is other than vertical, the movement of the traction meansw'ill be transmitted to the 86 extensible ivv ater conduit or hose, Phenc'e, permitby the compartment raising and lowering mech-' "'Yet' another object ofthe invention is to pron ting the flowing of water from a suitable source of supply therethrough, and by consequence, a

, conduction ofthewater upwardly with respect to :the apparatus to such a point where it may be 7 advantageously discharged or directed therefrom forzfire fighting'or extinguishingpurposes.

Other objects, of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

.In order that the invention. and its mode of operation maybe readily understood by those skilled in the art .to which it vappertains, I have the,accompanyingillustrative drawings and in theiollowing detailed-description based there- 11POI1,;:Set out one possible embodiment of my invention. i

In these drawings: 1

v Figure .1 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus, showing the same-.fmounted upon a mobile carrier, the latter being fragmentarily illustrated; V

Figure 2' is .a vertical transverse section taken ,on the line v2-'-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction .in whiclithe arrows point;

.Fi-gure 3 is an enlarged section taken trans- ;versely through the Figure 1, along the line 33 Havingsmore particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which'like characters of reference Will designate corresponding parts throughout, thezinvention may be stated; gener-' ally, to comprehend a suitable mobile carrier, designated :by the numeral 1, such for "example, as a motor-driven truck or the "like, a bed 2, so constructed as to permit of tilting or inclining of the "elevating apparatus, (hereinafter described), .either longitudinally or transversely of the same, as will :be hereinafter more fully described, an elevating mechanism, designated in its entirety bythe' numeral 3, and a car or compartment, referred to in its entirety by the numeral 4. The mobile carrier l is equippedwith a body ,or chassis of a size sufiicient to permitof the mounting of the bed 2 thereon. Said bed is of substantially rectangular configuration, having stan'da-rds i fixedly connected to the opposite ends of the main sills or supporting bars, the standards, in turn, being fixedlyanchored to appropriate and adjacent portions of the carrier A transversely disposed rocker shaft 6 is mounted in suitable bearings adjacent one end of the bed 2, while portions of the main sills or supporting bars 7 of the bed are formed with complementally and relatively opposed annular frames '8;

struts or bracing rods, generally designated by the numeral 9, being disposed transversely of the bed and having fixed connection at their opposite ends with adjacent portions of the annular frames 8, whereby to relatively brace the same. Vertically disposed screw-threaded shafts" l0 are rotatably mounted in bearings provided upon the basal portions of each of the annular frames 8, the upper portions of the shafts being rotatably received through bearings |2 supported upon the upper portions of each of said frames.

at points diametrically opposite the bearings A substantially U-shaped bar I3 is' fixedly connected to the upper sides of the bearings I2 and to the adjacent portions of the annular frames 8 and serves as a means for rotatably supporting from its lateral extremities, a shaft- I4 extending transversely of the bed 2 and longitudinally of the bar l3. Meshing bevel gears, generally iden- V tified by the numeral l5, are mounted upon the upper ends of the vertical screw-threaded shafts l0 and adjacent portions of the shaft l4, so that with rotation of the latter, as by the connection of a motor or like source'of'power, not showmto the extended end M'thereof, collective rotary movement will be imparted to the screw-threaded shafts I0.

Relatively spaced supporting arms l6, having certain of their ends slotted as at H, are pivotally mounted upon the hereinbefore described transverse rocker shaft 6, the shaft being received in said slots ll of the arms l6, as is shown in the Figure 1. The remaining or inner ends of these arms l6 are pivotally connectecLas at |8, to collars l9, each of which'have screwthreaded engagement with their respective screwthreaded shafts I8. Thus, it 'will be understood that with collective. rotation of the screwthreaded shafts I 0, pivotal movement of the supporting arms it will be effected, the direction of which will be dependent upon the direction of collective rotation of the screw-threaded shafts I0.

The elevating mechanism, hereinbefore generally identified by the numeral 3, is supported upon the bed 2, and more particularly, upon the pivotally mounted arms |6 thereof. This mechanism is received .upon a secondary supporting bed, consisting of obliquely disposed bars 20, fixedly interconnected. at their upper ends and supporting bearings 2|, adjacent the same, the lower end of the bars being fixedly mounted upon adjacent portions of the supporting arms l6, beyond the annular frames 8 of the bed ,2. A pair of the obliquely disposed bars 20 are arranged in relatively longitudinal relation upon the arms I6. Other supports of substantially reversed L-shaped formation, designated by the numeral 22 are provided thesecondary bed adjacent the bars 20 of one side of said secondary bed, the horizontal extensions 22' thereof being fixedly connected, as at 23, to adjacent portions of such arms 20; the remaining ends of the supports 22, together with the adjacent portions of the arms '25 being fixedly connected to their respective portions of the adjacent arms. l6, as at 24. R0-

tatably mounted in the longitudinally spaced nism. Said mechanism comprehends a pair of relatively spaced supporting bars 28 disposed transversely over the non-rotatable tubular element 26 carried about the shaft 25, the former being securely connected to the bars 28 by means of U-shaped fasteners 29 engaged thereabout and having their extremities effectually anchored in adjacent portions of. said bars 28, as is shown in the Figure 3. In this way, a pivotal support is provided the transversely disposed bars 28.

Disposed transversely with respect to the bars 28 and fixedly mounted upon the opposite extrernities of each, are a pair of track members 38,

each of which rotatably supports therein a longitudinally disposed screw-threaded shaft 3|.

Certain of the ends of each of said-shafts 3| are extended beyond their respective track members 30 and havesprocketwheels 32 fixedly carried thereupon. Sprocketchains 33 and 34 are provided the sprocket wheels 32, the opposite ends .of'which are engaged with the sprocket wheels 21, mounted upon-the extended end of the shaft 25. Consequently, it will be seen that with rotation of the shaft 25, collective rotationwill be imparted to the screw-threaded shafts 3|.

The above referred to shafts 3|,itshould be noted, have their opposite portions oppositely screw-threaded, as is indicated by the numeral sitely screw-threaded portions 3| of each of the shafts 3|, are correspondingly screw-threaded collars 35, the same being slidably and snugly received within their respective trackmembers '30, as is shown in the Figure 3. With collective rotation of the shafts 3|, it will bethus seen that the collars 35 will be caused to move longitudinally through their respective track members 30 in opposite directions. ,Each of the collars 35 is provided with upstanding tongues '36 having openings formed therethrough and receiving thereover, the. adjacent bifurcated ends of levers, generally indicated by the numeral 31, whereupon connecting rods 38 are passed through the bifurcated portions of said levers and the openings of. the adjacent tongues 36; the opposite ,ends of said connecting rods being preferably screw-threaded and each thereof being engaged with suitable locking nuts 39, for an obvious purpose. Those portions of each of the connecting rods 38 intermediate of the paired collars 35 are received through tubular spacing members 40, whereby to insure. fixed relative positioning as between the paired collars 35, and hence, insure free sliding movement of the same in their respective track members 30.

The levers 31 are crossed, intermediate of their ends and are pivotally interconnected by means of a transversely disposed connecting rod 38"" passing therethrough; the intermediate portion of said connecting rod 38' having the tubular spacing member 40' engaged thereover, and the opposite ends of the connecting rod being suit- Engaged with these oppoably locked against displacement with respect to .7

"tioni-n g of'the'wheelsduring such en a em n will be correspondi-nglymatched by the position.- .ing of the. compartment 4. Consequently, should the crossed and pivotally interconnected-levers V Aiplurality of relatively crossed and pivotally interconnected levers are arranged above the levers 31 and the adjacent .ends of certain :0: said levers 31 are connected thereto, thus. presentingwhat is generally known in :the as a lazy-tong construction.

stantiallyrectangularly shaped frame..-,42 havin upright angle irons 43 fixedly mounted adjacent the various corners thereof, while .uponthe intermediate portions of the opposite ends-oi said frame, supporting brackets. 44 are firmly mounted. Pivotally supported between the brackets 44 l is the compartment .4 consisting of; a cage-like structure, one of the, side walls of 'jWhiCh'iS preferably providedzwith a; doorway 4 .5, adaptedto be normally closed by means of a slidingpdoor 46, the. remainder of .thezwalls and thejtop of the compartment being constructed of heavyretic-u lated material, such ,asindicated at ,4! supported upon suitableforms, generally indicatedby the numeral 48. The flooring 49 of the compartment is preferably constructed of sheet material and if desired, a form of slidable or extendiblewalk 50 may be mounted therein in proximity to the doorway 45, so that when communication is to be effected as between the compartment .4 and an adjacent point or objective,,said walk 50 may be laterally distended, after the fashion as indicated in the Figure '7 thus, permitting of ingress or egress intoor from said compartment..4..

' Atithis point,,it is to be notedthat thecom- Spartment 4 is received between the angle irons 43 and therefore, that the samewillbe efi'evt -lally guarded or shielded from destructive contact-of the sides thereof with'foreign objects.' l

Laterally disposed bearing brackets 5| are fix.- edly connected to the upright angle irons ,43 upon one side of the compartment bed .42, ro-

tata y upporting a ba 52 therein. "Thenopposite ends of the bar 52 fixedly carry sup orting arms 53, the opposite ends of, which are, bifurcated and rotatably support wheels v54' therebetween. These wheels 54 receive endless or belt-like treads 5.5 over and about their peripheral portions, thus providing the same withselflaying treads of the tractor type, The. intermediate portion of the bar 52 has an arm 56 fixedly mounted thereupon, which arIIi, in turn, ispivotally connected to links 5.! extendedinto pivotal engagement with a vertically disposed bearing plate 58 mounted for'transver'se slidable movement in a, track member 59 mounted upon an intermediate portion of the compartment bed or'frame 42, as is shown in the Figures '1 and 3. The upper side of this hearing plate 58, as will be noted upon reference to the Figure'B, is'formed with oppositely inclined portions, which portions are adapted to have sliding bearing engagement with a' substantially reversed V-shaped pocket 60 formed in the sheet flooring 49 of the compartment 4. It willbe therefore seen thatbecause of the pivotal mounting of the compartment .4 between the brackets, that with sliding movement of the plate 58in its track 59, said compartment 4 will be tilted or pivoted with respect to its support. Hence, when the endless tread of the pairs of wheels 54 engage with a wallor other surface, such as indicated at 8|, the posithe endless treads55 of the'wheels 54 move over :a surface. other than a vertical or a perpendicu- 5 lat one, it 'Will .be understood that this out-of- ,thel-verticalr positioning of said wheels 54 will -.transmit sliding movement to the plate 58, which iin-turmiin sliding through the pocket of the compartment flooring will effect an automatic levelling of such flooring and thereby, permit the occupants of the compartment 4 to retain their .feet.

, With a view toward providing the occupants of the compartment] with means for manually controlling the positioning of the wheels 44 with relation to said compartment, the bar 52 may be and preferably is provided with a fixedly mounted s-procket'wheel 62 about which a sprocket chain I63is engaged, the remaining end of said sprocket chain-"engagingabout a second sprocket wheel :64 mounted upon a stub-shaft journalled in suitablefbearings in one end Wall of the compartment]; the inner end of said'stub-shaft being provided with a crank handle 66, which is arranged within the compartment 4 and is accessithe elevating mechanism may be effected, a pair of cylinders having .open upper ends, designated by the numeral 61, are fixedly mounted, in relatively vertical positions, upon a supporting bar .BB-disposed between and fixedly connected to the upper portions of the supports 22. Heavy expansible coil springs 69 are received within each of the cylinders 61; said cylinders, in turn, longitudinally receiving therethrough plungers 10, connected to and depending from an adjacent portion of the elevating mechanism 3. Each of the plungers 1B,. it will be noted, are provided with stop devices "H upon their, lower ends, and upon their intermediate portions, the stop devices carried upon the intermediate portions being adjacent ends of their respective expansible coil springs 69,. By reason of this construction, the plungers It! will be normally maintained in their uppermost positions, because of the engagement of their intermediate stop devices I! with the expansible coiled: springs 69 and consequently thereupon, the elevating mechanism 3 will be moved to and retained in a tilted or inclined position, because of its pivotal support upon the tubular element 26 carried by the shaft 25. To enable operator of the apparatus to pivot or movethe elevating mechanism .3 in a direction reverse to that attained by it under influence of the spring pressed plungers 10,1 mount upon an intermediate portion of the said elevating mechanism 3, opposite the side equipped with the plungers Ill, a plunger or arm H. About the upper end of this arm H, an expansible coiled spring 12 is-engaged, one end of which has fixed connection with the arm, as at 13 while the opposite end has fixed be rin n a m nt with an adjacent portion of its re iv ng and supportin bracket, as at 14. The lower end of this arm 1! adapted to have bearing engagement with the toggle construction are pivotally connected to a bracket 13 fixed to anadjacent portion of one of the supporting arms I6; the intermediate ends of the links of the toggle 'constructionhaving collars l9 and 80 connected thereto, the latter being internally screw-threaded. A shaft 8| is rotatably received through the collars 19 and 80,

one portion thereof being screw-threaded as at 82 whereby to engage with the internal screw, 'threads of the collar 83.

The remaining collar 19 is prevented from having'movement'longitudinally of the shaft M by means of a stop pin 1 83 passed through an adjacent part of said shaft and having its opposite ends in engagement with the adjacent portion of said collar 19, as is shown in the Figure 3. By rotating the shaft 8!, either manually or otherwise, it will be seen that the screw-threaded collar 88 will be moved over the screw-threaded portion 82 of said shaft. Thus, with movement of the collar 80 over the shaft in an inward direction with respect to the elevating mechanism, a downward pull will be imparted to the adjacent and connected side of said elevating mechanism and this pull, in conjunction with the thrust imparted to the opposite side thereof from the spring actuated plungers 10 will cause said elevating mechanism to be selectively tilted or inclined to the desired degreetransversely of and with respect to the bed .2. With rotation of the shaft 8! in a reverse direction, it will be seen that the screw-threaded collar 80 will move over its screw-threaded portion 82 in the opposite direction and in so doing, the toggle construction will be expanded, hence, imparting an upward thrust to the adjacent and connected side of said elevating mechanism, causing the latter to be tilted or inclined in an opposite direction and against the spring thrust action of the plungers is engaging with their respective expansible coiled springs 69 in the several cylinders 61.

If desired, certain of the levers of the toggle construction comprehended by the elevating mechanism 3 may be provided with sections of piping, such as generally designated by the numeral 84. The meeting or adjacent'ends of these pipe sections are interconnected by adjustable elbow fittings 85 and in this way, a

water pipe line is provided the elevating mechanism, the lower end of said pipe being equipped with a suitable coupling or fitting to facilitate the connection of a hose. 86 thereto, while the upper end of said line may be similarly equipped to permit of the connection of another hose (not shown) thereto. In this way, it will be seen that a stream of water may be discharged and selectively directed from the compartment l by occupants thereof.

In operation of the improved apparatus, with proper relative positioning of the mobile carrier I, the elevating mechanism 3 may be distended or elevated to any desired position by driving of the shaft 25, which in turn, will eifect collective rotation of the screw-threaded shafts 3| engaging the collars 35 and hence, moving the pivotally connected ends of the levers 31 toward each other. During raising of the elevating apparatus, bracing or supporting means will be afforded the compartment 4, in the form of the endless treads 55 engaged about the wheels 54, these treads engaging with a supporting surface 6| in the fashion as is shown in the Figure 7 and thus, stabilizing the construction as it is raised. Also, and as hereinbefore describedthe fiooringofthe compartment 4 will be maintained substantially level so as to aiford safety to the occupants thereof through the compensating means connected between said Wheels 54 and the compartment l.

Should it become'necessary to effect inclining of 'the elevating mechanism longitudinally of the carrier l duringeither a raising or lowering of the same, this may be effected by transmitting pivotal movement in the desired direction to the pivotally mounted supporting arms .I 6 through the medium of the vertically disposed screw-threaded shafts l mounted in the'annular frames 8 and adapted to be collectively rotated through the gearing mechanism hereinbefore described. Tilting or inclining of the elevating mechanism during either a raising or lowering operation of the same, transversely of the mobile carrier I may be selectively effected by rotation of the shaft 8| 'connected to the toggle mechanism 16, also hereinbefore specifically described. 'Con'sequently,'upon the ability of the apparatus to be tilted either longitudinally'or transversely, it'will be understood that the compartment 4 may be directed to or returned from any desired objective with abthe supporting arms whereby to transmit collective'pivotal movement thereto, a secondary bed carried upon the pivotal supporting arms, elevating mechanism pivotally mounted on said secondary bed movable in a direction at substantially right angles to said supporting arms, spring actuated means on said secondary bed connected to one side of the elevating mechanism for normally imparting an upward thrust thereto, means on the secondary bed connected to the opposite side of said elevating mechanism operable for eifecting pivotal movement of the elevating mechanism against the normal thrust of said spring actuated means, and a compartment carried on the elevating mechanism.

2. In an apparatusof the characterdescribed, a bed, supporting arms pivoted at certain of their ends upon said bed, vertically disposed screwthreaded shafts mounted on the bed and having screw-threaded connection with the free ends of said supporting arms, means for effecting collective rotation of said screw-threaded shafts, a

secondary bed pivotally supported upon said sup porting arms and movable in a direction at sub stantially right angles to the path of pivotal movement of the supporting arms, an elevating mechanism upon the secondary bed, said elevating mechanism comprising a lazy-tong assembly,

.means on the secondary bed connected to the lowermost ends of the levers of said lazy-tong assembly for transmitting motion thereto whereby to optionally distend or collapse the same, spring actuated means on the secondary bed connected to one side of the elevating mechanism for normally imparting an upward and tilting thrust thereto, other means mounted on said secondary bed and connected to the opposite side of said elevating mechanism operable for tilting said elevating mechanism in an opposite direction and against the thrust normally imparted thereto by said spring actuated means, a compartment carried upon the upper end of said elevating mechanisrri connected to the free ends of the uppermost levers of the lazy-tong assembly thereof and means for effecting pivotal adjustment of said compartment with respect to said elevating mechanism.

HENRY FRANK BUCHHEIT. 

